D -GUKESH’s parents had to endure financial difficulties in supporting their son’s ambition to become a world -class chess player, to the point where they had to rely on the help of friends to sponsor his participation in international tournaments.
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Gukesh Domomiraju has drawn a dazzling ascent since he ended the legendary reign of Viswanathan Anandand as a leading chess player in India in August 2023. The prodigy of teenage chess would continue to win the candidates tournament and the world chess champion of Olympia.
There was a time when Gukesh’s parents faced huge financial challenges to support his dreams of becoming a world -class chess player, to the point where they had to seek the help of friends to sponsor his participation in international tournaments.
With his race heated in 2024 which earned him 13.6 crosses at a price, most of whom came from his triumph against the Grand Master Chinese Dinge Liren in the World Championship, Gukesh ensured that the days of the struggle of his family are long and that they are no longer concerned about expenses.
“ We had a lot of help from very, very nice and altruistic people ”
Speaking to “India Today Conclave 2025”, Gukesh recalled the struggles that his parents had to endure and how it means so much for him to be able to reimburse his parents for their sacrifices with his incredible achievements.
“I remember that my parents’ friends sponsored me to play tournaments abroad. It was quite difficult at that time, and we had a lot of help from very, very nice and altruistic people. Now last year was financially very good for us.
“I think it means a lot to me that my parents no longer have to think about money. We can lead a comfortable life, not hard before, “said Gukesh during the event.
“ Do not see him take the standard failures ”: gukesh on freestyle
The end of Gukesh continued at the Tata Steel chess tournament in the Netherlands – his first event of the year – where he finished second for a second consecutive year. And more recently, he had participated in the Freestyle chess tournament in Weissenhaus, Germany, where he finished eighth out of 10 competitors.
When he was asked to compare freestyle failures with the classic format, in which he has been the out -of -competition player since last year and is currently classified third in the world, he said that even if the first is “exciting”, he does not see him taking control of the traditional format.
Read also | “Freestyle failures permanently the future of sport, but not in the next 10 years”: Arjun Erigaisi
“I don’t think about it much. Freestyle is exciting and I am happy to play it. But it is too early to say where it’s okay. So far, we have only had two serious tournaments in Freestyle.
“I want freestyle to become great, but I don’t see it taking control of standard chess. The history and inheritance of classic failures give it more value. The world championship cycle is always the greatest importance for the moment.
“Freestyle is an excellent addition to the classic, fast and blitz. But yes, we just have to see how it works. I am open to everyone, ”added Gukesh.
